Saturday, May 16, 2009

The current issue of the swine flu, this is caused by an Influenza A type virus.This determines the characteristics, such as shape and make up of the virus.Byotrol from Northern Environmental kills this type of virus.It is the infections that are caused by the swine flu virus that are difficult to control/treat.

Byocare Handmousse used on hard surfaces or hands kills the virus it does not treat the disease. Byotrol helps ‘prevent’ and protect – EN1500 with 30 minute and 16 hours control!

This may not be as direct proof as we like but we can be very confident that Byotrol is effective against flu virus

Below are some guidelines on our website – I have highlighted in red several of the many key features whereby simple, back to basic measures underpinned by the Byotrol Technology can help.

Swine Flu - Byotrol Publishes Guide Lines To Help Businesses

27th Apr 2009

Pandemic Flu Policy & Contingency Plan

1. INTRODUCTION

A Swine Flu ( influenza) pandemic has the potential to severely affect UK

Business, employees and their families, and requires specific planning over and above that made for disasters It is recommended the planning focuses on:

• Raising employees awareness of the threat of a pandemic and testing staff preparedness:

• Maintaining health surveillance and hygiene measures:

• Producing action plans that are specific to each of the business’s locations, taking into account local healthcare provision and regulatory systems governing drug licensing and stockpiling : and

• Enhancing protection for high risk and vulnerable employees.

2 Background

Pandemic influenza (flu) is a type of influenza that occurs every few decades and which spreads rapidly to affect most countries and regions around the world.

Unlike the “ordinary” flu that occurs every winter in the UK, pandemic flu can occur at any time of year.

Pandemic flu is much more serious than “ordinary” flu. As much as a quarter of the population may be affected – possibly more.

Pandemic flu is likely to cause the same symptoms as ordinary flu but the symptoms may be more severe because nobody will have any immunity or protection against the particular virus.

Swine influenza or “Swine Flu” is a contagious disease caused by mutation in influenza A viruses.

Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily

3 Planning for a PANDEMIC

3.1 The CEO should be the business’s designated pandemic coordinator and a pandemic response team from across the business should be set up and trained in clearly defined rolls.

3.2 The functions of the pandemic response team includes

• Maintaining the team’s own awareness of global developments in Swine Flu (including guidance on containment strategies and vaccines)

• Developing training and awareness materials for the business

• Briefing the Management Board

• Ensuring links are maintained with external stakeholders in planning for a pandemic flu (e.g. suppliers, customers and where relevant the Public)

PANDEMIC RESPONSE

Working practices and social distancing

• Employees who are fit to return to work following an absence due to pandemic flu (and who have therefore developed immunity to the disease) might be considered for high-risk, essential roles.

• The company should establish flexible working policies, enabling line managers to agree home working, different shift patterns, or relocation to a site more local to the employee’s home where appropriate.

• Employees will be required to work at least one metre away from colleagues to ensure social distancing and managers will reconfigure work-site layouts to enable this to take place

• Other social distancing responses are likely to include:

o Absolutely no shared use of Telephones and mobiles

o Advising employees to avoid face-to-face meetings and to use telephone and internet services instead, where possible

o If this is not possible, meeting only in a large room and maintaining a distance of at least one metre between participants

o Advising employees to avoid travelling at busy periods on public transport

• Essential workers who are totally reliant on public transport may be offered dedicated transport to and from work

Infection Control

• During a pandemic the business should seek to reduce the overall and specific risks to members of staff by taking appropriate infection control actions (e.g. strengthening guidance on hand washing, unnecessary contact such as hand shaking and isolataion of any member of staff with symptoms such as coughing)

• Additional protection measures will be taken to ensure that influenza does not spread through contaminated objects and surfaces, such as handles, railings and counters. Surfaces touched by hands will be cleaned at least daily using Byotrol products.

• Staff with flu-like symptoms will be required to stay at home until the symptoms disappear and will be allowed in the workplace only in extreme circumstances

• Staff developing symptoms at work will be accommodated in a designated isolation room while arrangements are made to transport them home. Precautions will be introduced for all those entering and leaving this room.

•

Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily

Staff at risk of developing influenza-related complications (e.g. pregnant workers and those with compromised immune systems) will be reassigned from high-risk work sites and locations in the event of a pandemic.

Business and personal travel

• Only essential business travel should be considered during a pandemic and procedures for approving travel need to be tightened, requiring authorisation from a senior manager

• The pandemic response team should monitor travel plans and new procedures for notifying employees’ location during periods of business travel will be introduced in the event of a pandemic

• Staff required to visit pandemic-affected areas on business will be provided with appropriate health advice and personal protective equipment (e.g. masks, Byotrol based handwipes) and employees will have the right to refuse to travel to such areas

• Staff visiting affected areas for non-business purposes during a pandemic may need to be required to stay away from work for a period of quarantine on unpaid leave.

3.3 Goods services and functions of the business that are essential to its operations and survival will be defined and the Business will:

• Carry out devolution planning: i.e. plan which services can be carried out by other sites:

• Develop an order of succession: i.e. plan which services can be carried out by personnel other than those who normally given the task and train non-essential back-up staff to perform essential tasks

• Stockpile small quantities of essential supplies, materials and equipment

• Ensure that maintenance plans are up to date to guarantee that all equipment essential to the business’s operation is capable of sustained operation in the event of a pandemic

• Prepare time lines for how long it will be possible for the Business to carry out its essential functions without critical supplies, personnel and equipment